New Delhi: Jamie Gittens is enjoying a remarkable surge in form and has quickly become one of Borussia Dortmund’s most exciting prospects. On Wednesday, his impact off the bench helped transform a struggling Borussia Dortmund side against Club Brugge in their Champions League opener. After being substituted in the 68th minute, Gittens turned the game around and scored twice to lead Dortmund to a 3-0 victory.
His first goal came courtesy of a deflection in the 76th minute but his brace came within the next 10 minutes which was a moment of individual brilliance. After a series of dazzling step-overs, he shifted onto his right foot and finished clinically. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award and he could have even completed a hat-trick if Serhou Guirassy had not taken a late penalty.
Jamie Gittens’ footwork 🔥
Kevin Wimmer’s sublime effort 😍
Vote for your Goal of the Day 👇#UCLGOTD || @Heineken
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 18, 2024
The 20-year-old England youth international winger finds the best form of his life. Dortmund fans are no strangers to Gittens’s explosive performances. In August he also netted two late goals in a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt showcasing his knack for making an impact off the bench. However, his Champions League display has drawn the attention of fans worldwide.
A familiar path
If one has been following English talents at Dortmund, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens will surely ring a bell. At the start of the current season, the winger opted to remove the “Bynoe” from his shirt, a decision he said came from his father who gave him both names. Since then Gittens has been in red-hot form.
Born in London in August 2004, Gittens began his footballing journey at Reading before moving to Manchester City’s academy in 2018. Just like Jadon Sancho, Gittens chose to leave City in search of first-team opportunities and ended up signing with Dortmund in 2022.
77′ Wir führen in Brügge! 🃏
⭐️ #CLUBVB 0:1 #UCL ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/MbnKrlUd2X
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) September 18, 2024
Gittens made his first-team debut in April 2022 and 10 months after that he featured in his first Champions League game against Chelsea. Last season, he scored his first Champions League goal against AC Milan, another testament to his rising stature.
On the international stage, Gittens has been just as impressive. He was instrumental in England’s European Under-19 Championship triumph in 2022, starting in the final as the Young Lions lifted the trophy.
Gittens ready for stardom
After playing a supporting role in his early Dortmund career Gittens looks ready to break through to the next level. Last season, he scored just three goals across all competitions but in only five games this season, he has already surpassed that total. His Bundesliga stats also reflect his energetic style with 88 intense sprints so far this season which is a clear sign of a winger who thrives on pace and quick dribbling.
Jamie Gittens has turned it 🆙 this season 🚀 pic.twitter.com/eUjqpNR2kG
— LiveScore (@livescore) September 19, 2024
Following his Champions League performance, Gittens expressed his delight, saying, “It’s important to start the season like this. My job is to create chances, and I feel I’m doing that.”
If he continues on this trajectory Dortmund and England may have another superstar in the making.
Jamie Gittens shines at Dortmund, following Sancho’s path with electrifying displays. The young winger is poised to become a key player for both club and country. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today